***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

[Psyblast]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Well, lost in this team being an abortion......Greg Monroe's pretty good.

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

I co-sign about Greg Monroe. He's developing into a really good player and is capable of scoring in more ways than I thought he ever would in the NBA level.

However, if there was one thing I would hope Monroe would improve on, it's that he should try to finish with authority more often when driving to the hoop. Look to throw down more dunks instead of laying it in all the time.

Plus I think he should work toward being a more explosive jumper -- especially of the one-foot take-off variety. I'm not saying he has to reach Dwight Howard/Blake Griffin level hops, because he'll never get to that point. Just develop good enough leaping ability to get to the point of becoming a threat to boom on guys on every drive.

Kruza

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

I'm still hoping they can suck out and get a good shot for that #1 pick. Anthony Davis seems to be a lock for a future star imo. It might just be my homer UK speaking though.

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

I have to give major props to Rodney Stuckey. His spot-up jumper is still suspect (especially from the 3pt line), but Stuck has improved dramatically on every other facet of his game this season. He's been finishing his drives into the lane with more consistency if not drawing fouls to get to the free throw line. Plus he has been playing unselfish ball and also hasn't been turning the ball over nearly as often as in the past.

Have to mention Jason Maxiell too, who has also stepped up his game since he's earned more playing time. Maxiell has improved his game a bit offensively to match his solid effort on the boards and good hustle on defense. He's still too undersized for my liking to be a starting big man, but he would fit in well as the first big to come off the bench.

Kruza

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Unfortunately I haven't got to see many Piston games this year, but it is nice to see they have some good players for the future.
They never used their amnesty clause did they?

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Correct. The Pistons haven't used the amnesty clause yet. Safe to say that it'll likely be used this upcoming offseason.

Kruza

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Correct. The Pistons haven't used the amnesty clause yet. Safe to say that it'll likely be used this upcoming offseason.

Kruza

On Charlie V or Ben Gordon? Who else would they really use it on?

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Oh, it's definitely going to be either Ben Gordon or Charlie Villanueva getting the amnesty axe -- no doubt about it.

I think it's going to happen to the one who the Pistons aren't able to trade either by the March 15 deadline or during the early part of the offseason. If neither player is traded, then I believe Ben Gordon gets the amnesty axe due to the nice progression of Rodney Stuckey and also the retirement of Ben Wallace, leaving an opening for another big man on the team to take his minutes (CV? Vernon Macklin?).

Kruza

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

Oh, it's definitely going to be either Ben Gordon or Charlie Villanueva getting the amnesty axe -- no doubt about it.

I think it's going to happen to the one who the Pistons aren't able to trade either by the March 15 deadline or during the early part of the offseason. If neither player is traded, then I believe Ben Gordon gets the amnesty axe due to the nice progression of Rodney Stuckey and also the retirement of Ben Wallace, leaving an opening for another big man on the team to take his minutes (CV? Vernon Macklin?).

Kruza

Since Prince resigned afterwards, they can't use the amnesty so that is another bad contract :/
It's a damn shame with both of those contracts, hopefully they can trade one/amnesty the other.

[rdnk]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

I kinda like Ben Gordon as the 6th man, with Stuckey starting at SG. I'd rather they amnesty Villanueva.

[Kruza]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

I have to say it's been a pleasant surprise to see the Pistons play over .500 ball since the horrific 4-20 start. This is mainly because of the settled playing rotation established by coach Lawrence Frank and the recent emergence of Rodney Stuckey and now Jason Maxiell. The club is actually playing themselves to picking at the lower half of the top 10 of the draft -- and maybe even below there.

Things are about to get very rough for the Pistons though, with the next 9 of 11 games being on the road. This upcoming west trip is going to say a lot about how much the Pistons have actually progressed since this team has consistently been playing awful away from The Palace for the entire season up to this point.

Kruza

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

I was so surprised when they were up 23 after 1 quarter against Toronto. I only watched the first quarter, but it was very nice to see, besides the few stupid plays that happened.

[l3ulvl]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

It was nice for me to actually watch the team in HD instead of my usual online streams, over at a buddy's house.

I think it's gonna get ugly over this road trip though.

[redsrule]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

It was nice for me to actually watch the team in HD instead of my usual online streams, over at a buddy's house.

I think it's gonna get ugly over this road trip though.

I actually had a good stream for the Raptors game, I was surprised.
Unfortunately here we get Cavs games, not Pistons games.

[rdnk]

Re: ***Official Detroit Pistons Thread***

This may sound strange, but assuming we hold on against the Kings tonight, we are only 3 games out of a playoff spot. With the way they've been playing recently, and how it seems like no one wants the 8 seed in the East, could the Pistons make a run at a playoff spot? They've been playing pretty good recently, and there are 23 games left.